>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Pickle Jar
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on
>>> > > > > >>> the floor beside the dresser in my parents'
>>> > > > > >>> bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty
>>> > > > > >>> his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> the coins made as they were dropped into the jar.. They
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> as the jar was filled..
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> the bank.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production..
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> look at me hopefully. 'Those coins are going to keep you
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back.'
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier,
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> he would grin proudly.. 'These are for my son's college
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me.'
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> always got vanilla.. When the clerk at the ice cream
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> few coins nestled in his palm. 'When we get home,
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> we'll start filling the jar again.' He always let me drop
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> 'You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> quarters,' he said.. 'But you'll get there; I'll see to
>>> > > > > >>> that.'
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> when Dad got laid off from the mill,and Mama had to
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> serve dried beans several times a week, not a single
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> dime was taken from the jar.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me,
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> pouring catsup over my beans to make them more
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> palatable, he became more determined than ever to
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> make a way out for me 'When you finish college, Son,'
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> he told me, his eyes glistening, 'You'll never have to
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> eat beans again - unless you want to.'
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> The years passed, and I finished college and took a
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents,
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> and had been removed.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> eloquently than the most flowery of words could have
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> anything else, how much my dad had loved me.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born,
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She probably
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> and leading me into the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed,
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> speak.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> This truly touched my heart. Sometimes we are so busy
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> adding up our troubles that we forget to count our
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> blessings.Never underestimate the power of your actions.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> better or for worse.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> in some way. Look for GOOD in others.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> - Happy moments, praise God.
>>> > > > > >>> - Difficult moments, seek God.
>>> > > > > >>> - Quiet moments, worship God.
>>> > > > > >>> - Painful moments, trust God.
>>> > > > > >>> - Every moment, thank God.
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> Pass this message to seven people except
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> you and me. You will receive a miracle
>>> > > > > >>>
>>> > > > > >>> tomorrow - don't question..(just do it)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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